Related Content

Flanked by representatives from several other law enforcement agencies, including the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police and the FBI, Eden said Golson’s injuries were serious, but that his family has asked the department not to divulge the extent of those injuries.

"I will tell you that they are serious injuries and we pray that he'll be able to return to work," Eden said.

Eden said he believed Golson’s recovery will take several months.

Golson pulled the suspect over on San Mateo Lane, just off San Mateo Boulevard near Del Norte High School around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the APD.

Officials said that as Golson walked up to the SUV, the suspect opened fire from inside the vehicle.

Golson was hit once in his bulletproof vest and once in the torso. He was able to return fire and several bullet holes could be seen on the side of the vehicle. It’s not clear if the suspect was hit.

The suspect ran away and has not been found. Eden said APD has not yet identified the suspect.

A gun was recovered at the scene and it was determined the vehicle was stolen from a local car lot Friday, Eden said.

He said the FBI has taken the video and a forensics lab is analyzing it in an attempt to positively identify the suspect. APD said it was unable to obtain useful footage from surveillance cameras from nearby buildings.

Golson has not been formally interviewed yet.

Golson was rushed to UNM Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

His family, Eden and members of the APD command staff were by his side during recovery. Eden said Golson likely faces more surgery in the future. To his knowledge, Eden said Golson had never been wounded in the line of duty.

In his 31 years with APD, Golson has served in a number of units. Eden said he’s currently serving as “one of our best DWI enforcement officers."

Golson is married with children. Golson served with the U.S Marine Corps before joining the department.

Eden said the department has been inundated with calls from public officials and other members of the community asking how Golson is doing and how they can help. Eden said the best way the community can help is to help police identify the suspect.

Anyone with tips is asked to call APD at 242-COPS.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering a $7,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Stephanie Lopez, an APD officer and president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said this comes during a difficult time for law enforcement in the United States. Last month, two New York City police officers were ambushed and fatally shot while sitting in their patrol car. On Dec. 27 an officer in Flagstaff, Arizona was shot and killed.

Albuquerque police sent honor guard representatives to the funerals of all three officers.

“It’s definitely a huge wake-up call for our community to have something hit so close to home,” Lopez said.

Golson is the fifth APD officer to be shot in the line of duty since October 2013.

Lopez said the union plans to hold a fundraiser to help pay for Golson’s medical expenses.

In an unrelated event, Golson had intruders enter his home back in 2006.

"(My daughters) could hear them trying to open the door," Golson said at the time. "They probably saw my uniform hanging there, realized a police officer did live there."